Dobbratz Captures Veteran’s Memorial 75

by Andrew Schaller
JEFFERSON, WI (Saturday, May 26, 2012) Steve Dobbratz grabbed control of the Veteran’s Memorial 75 lap Late Model feature just past the halfway point and hung on to get the big victory on Saturday night. The win marks the first of the season for the Rio pilot at Jefferson Speedway.

Dale Nottestad and Tim Sargent paced the field of stout competitors to the drop of the green flag with Nottestad moving into the early lead on lap one. Dobbratz quickly moved past Sargent into second on lap two with Casey Johnson in tow for third. The top three lined up single file as they broke away from the rest of the field. Johnson moved to the bottom of the racing surface as he looked to get past Dobbratz for second. But the first of two cautions slowed his efforts on lap 28 as Rob Summers spun in turn four. As racing resumed, Dobbratz got a good run to the low side of Nottestad entering turn one. They raced side by side until lap 31 when they touched through turns three and four allowing Nottestad to regain sole possession of the top spot. The leaders once again lined up single file with Nottestad showing the way followed by Dobbratz in second and Johnson in third. On lap 40, Dobbratz once again charged underneath Nottestad entering turn one. The pair of drivers leaned on eachother until Dobbratz gained the advantage, clearing for the lead on lap 43. Nottestad tried to come back strong, but Dobbratz held him off to stay out front. The second and final caution appeared on lap 67 for a spinning Rusty Hansen, setting up an eight lap shootout to the finish. On the restart, Nottestad charged under Dobbratz into turn one. The duo touched down the back stretch and into turn three. Dobbratz gained control of his mount as he took control of the point once again. Dobbratz managed to hold off Nottestad over the final laps to see the checkers first and collect the big payday for the win. Nottestad settled for second followed by Jason Erickson, Johnson and Sargent.

Tory Bagley of Stoughton took the lead and hung on to win the 35 lap Sportsman feature event. Dan Schmidt and Adam Bleskan battled from the front row with Bleskan taking control and Jim Taylor up to second. The sole caution of the race waved on lap six for a wreck down the backstretch involving Schmidt. Bleskan restarted as the leader followed by Taylor and Steven Sauer. On lap ten, Bleskan got loose through turns one and two as Sauer fired up under looking to lead. Sauer cleared for the top spot on lap 12 with Bagley following into second. Bagley snuck up to the inside of Sauer on lap 14, as the pair of drivers raced door to door. Bagley cleared for the lead a lap later with Jason Thoma looking to follow. Bagley pulled away from the pack as Thoma worked to get past Sauer for second. Thoma completed the pass on lap 18 as he set his sights on Bagley out front. Thoma continued to reel in the leader as the laps ticked away. Thoma finally caught Bagley with six laps remaining as he peeked to the inside of the leader. But Bagley kept Thoma at bay as he hung on to see the checkers first. Thoma finished second followed by Will Rece, Sauer and Mark Deporter.

Mike Lambert of Madison picked up his second straight feature win on the season by winning the 20 lap event. Neil Higgins led early on as Mark English quickly moved into third behind. Peter Shelley. Lambert joined English and Shelley as they raced three wide for the second position. Lambert emerged with the spot as he quickly drove under Higgins at the front. Lambert cleared for the top spot on lap nine with English and Kyle Stark in tow for second and third respectively. Stark moved to the inside of English as they launched an intense battle for second while Lambert opened up a large lead. On lap 15, English fell off the pace handing the second spot to Stark as he was forced to retire. Stark looked to close on Lambert on the point, but Lambert was already well on his way to picking up the win. Stark come home second with Higgins, Matt McKinney and James Bell rounding out the top five.

Bobby Selsing of Edgerton continued his hot streak to open up the season as he won his fourth Hobby Stock feature in as many weeks. After a three wide battle to open up the action, Tony Ciano emerged as the early leader with Greg Bowers right behind in second. Selsing charged up to third by lap three as the leaders raced nose to tail. On lap ten, Selsing moved to the high side, drawing even with Bowers for second. Selsing claimed the position on lap 11 with James Helmer following into third. A lap later, Selsing dove under Ciano as they raced into turn one. But a caution slowed his efforts to take the lead. As racing resumed, Selsing once again used the low groove to pull even with Ciano. Selsing cleared for the lead on lap 14 with Helmer in tow for second. Selsing survived one final caution period with three laps to go to pick up his fourth win of 2012. Helmer was second followed by Lucas Buckingham, Jeff LeFave and Ciano.

Tim Ellis of South Beloit, IL, was the winner of the 15 lap Road Warrior feature event. John Handeland and Jason Haas led the field to green as they raced side by side for the lead. Bill Sweeney joined the fight for the top spot on lap two as they raced three wide down the back stretch. Sweeney claimed the lead on lap three with Ellis following into second a lap later. Ellis pulled up behind Sweeney looking for a way around the new leader. On lap nine, Ellis slid under Sweeney down the front chute. The pair of drivers raced wheel to wheel for two laps until Ellis grabbed control on lap 11. Rob Lange followed him past Sweeney, but Ellis managed to hold him off to get the win. Lange was second with Sweeney , Bill Reynolds and Rodger Stephenson completing the top five.

In Bandit action, it was Josh Lenz of Lake Mills taking the victory in the 20 lap feature event. Doug O’Grady and Lenz paced the field to green as they raced side by side. On lap two, O’Grady experience mechanical difficulties as he pulled off the racing surface handing the lead to Lenz. After a caution on lap nine, Josh Marx pulled up to challenge Lenz on the point with Phil Wuesthoff in third. Wuesthoff drove to the outside past Marx as he pulled even with Lenz at the front. The pair of drivers race side by side until Wuesthoff began to lose grip on the outside and fall back. Keith Erickson took his turn challenging Lenz for the top spot with two laps to go. Erickson moved to the high side as the white flag waved. But Lenz was able to hold on to pick up his first feature win of the season. Erickson finished second followed by Marx, Wuesthoff and Taylor Schmude.

Next Saturday, June 2 ,is a full program in all divisions. Time trials begin at 5pm with racing at 7pm sharp. Jefferson Speedway is located halfway between Jefferson and Cambridge on Hwy 18. Please visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com for more information.